Jumping the gun

SIR - The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens, claims that the guns with which he was pictured were confiscated on the streets of London (report, Aug 17). I have my doubts. A surprisingly large proportion appear to be the type of specialised and expensively customised pieces handed in under duress by legitimate sportsmen after Dunblane.

In any case, I'm sure that we'll all sleep easier knowing that the cork-firing air pistol near the top of his pile is out of criminal hands. I note also that not one of the guns is in a demonstrably safe condition, that is, breech open and magazine detached.